UPSC Prelims 2012 · Question 21 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2012 question on Ancient Indian Scientific Progress
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2012
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectAncient History
- TopicAncient Art, Literature and Culture
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct?
1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by 1st century AD.
2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had beginning of 3rd century AD.
3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD.
4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Show answer
Answer: C. 1, 3 and 4 only
Verdict
Correct Answer: 1, 3 and 4 only
Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct because ancient India had advanced surgical instruments, sine concepts and cyclic quadrilateral geometry, while internal organ transplantation was not known in the 3rd century AD.
Analysis
Ancient India made major contributions to medicine, surgery, mathematics and astronomy. However, some advanced medical procedures like internal organ transplantation belong to modern medicine.
Statement by statement
1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by 1st century AD — Correct
The Sushruta Samhita describes many surgical instruments and techniques.
Instruments such as scalpels, forceps and needles were known in ancient Indian surgery, and specialized surgical practice was well developed by this period.
2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had beginning of 3rd century AD — Incorrect
Ancient Indian medicine had advanced knowledge of surgery, including rhinoplasty and cataract-related procedures.
But transplantation of internal organs like heart or kidney is a modern achievement requiring immunology, anaesthesia, antisepsis and organ preservation. This was not available in the 3rd century AD.
3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD — Correct
Aryabhata’s Aryabhatiya, composed in 499 AD, contains trigonometric ideas.
He used the concept of jya, corresponding to sine, and gave trigonometric tables.
4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD — Correct
Brahmagupta discussed cyclic quadrilaterals in the Brahmasphutasiddhanta in the 7th century AD.
He is associated with a formula for the area of a cyclic quadrilateral, an important contribution to geometry.
Extra UPSC info
* Sushruta is often called the Father of Plastic Surgery due to his work on reconstructive surgery.
* Aryabhata contributed to astronomy, trigonometry and the approximation of pi.
* Aryabhata also explained the rotation of the Earth on its axis.
* Brahmagupta gave important rules relating to zero and negative numbers.
* Brahmagupta’s Brahmasphutasiddhanta was composed in 628 AD.
* Kanada is associated with the Vaisheshika school and the atomic theory concept in Indian philosophy.